The tech world is buzzing with a surprising revelation: Intel and Nvidia are teaming up to develop Intel CPUs featuring integrated Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs. This isn’t just about massive AI data centers; the collaboration is explicitly aimed at personal computers, promising a significant upgrade for gamers everywhere.
For a long time, AMD held a unique advantage, being the only company with licenses for both x86 CPU architecture (the backbone of most modern gaming PCs) and a robust GPU business, thanks to its acquisition of ATi in 2006. Nvidia, on the other hand, lacked an x86 license, while Intel’s integrated graphics haven’t traditionally been a strong point in the high-performance gaming segment. This new partnership is set to disrupt that balance in a major way. The implications are vast, potentially shaking up the recommendations for the best gaming CPUs and even the most powerful gaming handhelds.
In a joint statement, both companies affirmed, “For personal computing, Intel will build and offer to the market x86 system-on-chips (SOCs) that integrate Nvidia RTX GPU chiplets. These new x86 RTX SOCs will power a wide range of PCs that demand integration of world-class CPUs and GPUs.” The integration will leverage a chiplet design, meaning the CPU won’t be a single, monolithic piece of silicon. Instead, it will comprise several smaller dies housed within a single CPU package, with one of these specialized dies being the Nvidia GPU.
A key benefit for Intel in this alliance is gaining access to Nvidia’s advanced AI technology. While current Intel Arrow Lake CPUs include a modest NPU (Neural Processing Unit) rated at 13 TOPs, partnering with Nvidia could dramatically boost this capability through the inclusion of Tensor cores. Imagine a future Intel CPU that can natively run advanced features like DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) without requiring a separate, discrete graphics card.
From Nvidia’s perspective, this deal provides a crucial entry into the x86 CPU market, a territory it has previously been unable to fully penetrate. Nvidia’s existing CPUs primarily utilize the Arm architecture. While Arm-based CPUs offer impressive power and efficiency, the x86 architecture remains dominant in the vast majority of personal computers.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang hailed the agreement as a “historic collaboration,” emphasizing that it will “expand our ecosystems and lay the foundation for the next era of computing.” This news is undoubtedly a challenge for AMD, which has long dominated the integrated GPU space within x86 CPUs, powering consoles like the PlayStation and Xbox, as well as many popular handheld devices. This groundbreaking deal could fundamentally alter the competitive landscape.
The companies are scheduled to hold a webcast press conference today at 10 AM Pacific time, where more details about these innovative new chips are expected to be unveiled.
The industry is now abuzz with questions: what will be the true impact on the CPU market, and should AMD be concerned about this formidable new challenger?